23/02/2023
15 Bad Auto Habits You should Stop Doing Now !! ⚠️⚠️
1. Ignoring Your Check Engine and Other Warning Lights.
A “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” along with other warning lights can indicate a problem with just about anything, including your oil, cooling system, engine, transmission, brakes, electrical accessories — even your entertainment system.
If you ignore the warning lights or dash messages, you risk serious damage to engine or transmission, costing thousands. When a warning light or message appears, get your vehicle checked as soon as possible by your automobile technician.
2. Waiting Too Long On Routine Maintenance.🕑
The routine maintenance is critical to the life of your vehicle.
Here’s an example: Engine coolant does more than keep your engine from overheating. The additives also prevent internal corrosion. But those additives wear out over time. If you skip routine coolant changes, you risk early water pump and heater core and radiator failure.
3. Ignoring Unusual Noises.
Vehicles in good condition don’t make squealing, screeching, grinding, rumbling, clicking or clunking sounds. Example a squealing sound can be a sign of a drive belt problem.
If you hear your vehicle making any unusual noise, get it checked out sooner rather than later. Components that squeal, screech, grind, rumble, click or clunk do NOT heal themselves. And when they fail, they usually cause damage to other expensive components.
4. Ignoring Smells.
An oily burning smell means oil or fluids are leaking onto hot engine and exhaust components. By the time you notice the smell, chances are you’re already running low on fluid. Low fluid levels can cause serious and costly engine, transmission or power steering damage.
5. Buying a Used Car Without a Professional Inspection Report.
Most people buy a used car based on appearance. That’s a huge mistake. Even if you take the time to check the dipstick, look under the hood and take it for a test drive, that’s still not good enough. Those cursory checks can’t detect hidden problems that can crop up after the sale and cost you dearly.
Getting the vehicle checked out by a professional before you buy is a much better way.
6. Driving On Worn Tires. 🛞
Tires cost a bundle, so it’s no surprise that car owners try to squeeze the last bit of life out of theirs before dropping hundreds on a new set. But running completely worn out tires can cost you more in the long run. Low tread depth greatly increases your chances of getting into crash, and that can cost you big-time.
7. Driving Your Car When It’s Overheated. 🌡️
Engines can overheat due to a coolant leak, failed radiator fan, failing water pump or various other reasons. With older cast iron engines, you could sometimes limp home or to the nearest shop by turning your heater on full blast and pausing along the way to let the engine cool down. That method doesn’t work well with modern aluminum engines.
Driving an overheated aluminum engine for as little as five minutes can result in total head gasket failure. Once the gasket fails, it can leak coolant into the crankcase where it destroys engine bearings, or leak into the exhaust where it destroys the catalytic converter.
8. Ignoring Oily Wet Stains On Your Driveway.
Large wet oily stains on your driveway are a sign that an engine, power steering, brake or transmission seal or gasket is leaking and that the fluid is probably low. Low fluid levels can cause early engine, transmission and power steering overheating and failure, and a brake fluid leak presents a real safety hazard.
9.Not Driving Your Vehicle at All.
Your vehicle was designed to be used, not looked at. Problems can pop up when your vehicle is parked for a week or longer. Driving your car even just a few miles every few days can keep the charge topped off.
10. Hard starts and stops 🚦
Hard stops wear out your brakes faster while quick starts waste fuel. Obviously, sudden stops are necessary at times, but the best way to drive is to look ahead and plan accordingly, smoothly pressing on the gas or brake pedal when needed.
11. Racing Over Speed Bumps.
Speedbumps have a negative effect on your vehicle's steering, suspension, and alignment if driven over at high speeds and the oil sump may even get damaged and lose most of the engine oil . The purpose of speed bumps is to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. You will keep your neighbors and your car happy if you slow down when approaching a speed bump.
12. Revving a Cold Engine.
Starting your engine and letting it idle for a few minutes helps warm up the engine and give the oil time to circulate. However, don’t rev the engine when it is cold. This causes unnecessary wear on engine parts that haven’t had time to be lubricated with thorough oil circulation. It also causes abrupt temperature changes that can damage parts. Let your engine warm-up before revving the engine, it will sound better and rev more smoothly.
13. Driving through deep water.
If you approach any kind of flooding, you may be tempted to drive right through. But your best—and safest—course of action is always to turn around and find another route. Driving through deep water can cause Hydro lock which damage or destroy your vehicle’s engine . Deep water can also affect transmission and other critical components. It can also cause irreversible damage to your car’s complex electrical system.
14. Driving on Empty Gas Tanks
If you didn’t know, dirt and rust are present in your gas tank. Letting your gas level drop too low will cause these sediments to clog up your vehicle’s fuel filter as it enters your car’s fuel system.
It is recommended that you ensure a half tank of gas whenever you go for a drive.
15. Resting your hand on the gear stick.
Resting your hand on the gear stick while it’s in gear may cause you to unwittingly apply pressure to the selector fork and other internal parts. In the long run, this habit can speed up wear and tear of gearbox components, leading to noisy or crunching gears or possible failure to select a gear.
